Project TransTeam

10/14/2025

10/13/2025

ACTION ALERT: Devastating cuts have been made to the Office of Special Education. This office implements IDEA and oversees that our children receive a free and appropriate public education, which is now at risk.✂️💔⚠️

If you care about children with disabilities and their families and the services they receive, PLEASE SPEAK OUT and contact your representatives!! Links are below.

DEC stands with CEC in strong opposition to the devastating cuts to the U.S. Department of Education that nearly eliminate OSEP and RSA—jeopardizing IDEA implementation and the rights of young children with disabilities and their families. OSEP’s leadership is vital to maintaining high-quality early intervention and early childhood special education nationwide. Take action today through CEC’s advocacy portal and share this alert widely to help protect IDEA and the future of early childhood programs: https://sbee.link/nkfag4dw87

Read the full action alert from CEC here: https://sbee.link/8awxeuq4dk

10/09/2025

Project TransTeam alums representing at the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Conference in Portland!
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UAB Graduate School UAB School of Education and Human SciencesUAB Department of Occupational TherapyUAB Dept of Physical TherapyUAB School of Health Professions

10/04/2025

United Ability doing great things! ❤

🥹 EARLY INTERVENTION: What do you know about this therapy approach? See how one local program encourages kids with disabilities. 👇❤️ NowPartner CM

09/30/2025

Project TransTeam Evolution was honored to learn from the most amazing mothers, Susan Weismann Lee and Olivia Tolbert along with their children Alyssa and Mason!

These families are incredible in every way and we are delighted that they have been willing to be our community partners for so many years and share their knowledge with our scholars! 💚💛

UAB School of Education and Human Sciences UAB Department of Occupational Therapy UAB Dept of Physical Therapy UAB School of Health Professions UAB Graduate School

09/16/2025

Project TransTeam Evolution is off to a fabulous start for the Fall semester! ❤️



UAB School of Education and Human Sciences UAB Graduate School UAB Dept of Physical Therapy UAB Department of Occupational Therapy UAB School of Health Professions

09/05/2025

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Why Early Intervention Matters

Early intervention can make a world of difference in your child’s development. From birth to age 3, a child’s brain is growing at its fastest rate—making this the most critical time to support learning and skill-building.

When developmental delays or challenges are identified early, therapy can begin right away—giving your child the tools and strategies they need while their brain is most adaptable. Starting early can improve communication, motor skills, social-emotional growth, and even help prevent more significant delays down the road.

It also supports families by helping parents understand their child’s unique needs and how to support them day-to-day. Early intervention isn’t about labeling your child—it’s about opening doors and giving them every opportunity to thrive.

The earlier you start, the more progress your child can make. Small steps now can lead to big changes later.

Don’t wait. Early support is strong support.

** "maltreated" as in not treating and supporting child reaching their developmental milestones

08/16/2025

One million neural connections every second happens in a baby’s brain during the first three years.

This is the main event. The way we show up with emotionally nourishing, supportive relationships shapes lifelong health and well-being.

Let’s treat it like it matters. Because it does.

08/13/2025

Worth resharing! Everyone with young children throughout Alabama should be taking advantage of this wonderful FREE resource! 💗

🎉Exciting News! 📚 We’re thrilled to celebrate the success of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Alabama, where all children under five are now eligible to enroll, thanks to our wonderful Local Program Partners and supporters!

Read more and enroll your child today: https://imaginationlibrary.com/alabama-celebrates-statewide-coverage-of-dolly-partons-imagination-library/

08/07/2025

07/30/2025

Join us on August 20 at 3 PM EST for Teaching Tools: Addressing Challenging Behavior in Everyday Routines, A Within the Framework Webinar.

Sometimes you know the meaning of the behavior, but you’re unsure what to do. We have a wonderful guide that can assist you – Using Function-Informed Support to Address Challenging Behavior within Routines. Join this call to learn how to use the updated guide to develop and implement a support plan for children exhibiting behavior that challenges adults in everyday routines and activities (e.g., snack time, large group activities, outdoor play, centers).

Register today!
https://challengingbehavior.org/webinar/teaching-tools-addressing-challenging-behavior-in-everyday-routines/

07/04/2025

DEC Stands With You! A message to all who serve and care for infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities and their families in response to the passage of H.R.1 - the reconciliation bill - by the Congress and the anticipated signing of the bill by the President on July 4, 2025.

Today, we share your feelings of sadness, grief, anger, and disbelief. We share with you a lack of understanding as to how our leaders have disregarded our calls, powerful stories, and compelling data to stop the devastating cuts to Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),and essential disability and early childhood services. We share your concern for what lies ahead for the families we serve.

We are concerned for you, for what the cuts will mean to you individually. We are concerned for the capacity of professionals in the field to provide high quality services in this new era.

We should take some time with friends and family this weekend to grieve what was. We should “breathe some” as the late Jay Turnbull would remind us.

And then, we will rise alongside you and seek new solutions, and new ways to support the incredibly important work you do.

We will say, Okay. We are ready! What now? What’s next?

What we do know:
• We will not turn from our commitment to children and families.
• We will not lose sight of the “why” of the work or the commitment to high quality.
• We will not step back from our commitment to inclusion, equity, and social justice.
• We will join you as each of us puts these commitments into practice with every action, every word, every decision.

For now, we will rely on the words of Janice Fialka. Originally written from a parent's perspective, the poem reflects where we stand this evening, professionals and families together, and where we will stand together always.

“We want only a quiet shoulder upon which to rest our heads. If you cannot give us back our sweet dream, then comfort us through this evening. Hold us. Rock us until morning light creeps in. Then we will rise and begin the work of a new day.”
– “Advice to Professionals Who Must Conference Cases" by Janice Fialka, 1997

DEC appreciates all you have done and will do! We rise together!